Ancelotti: 'Pep is right' about fixture congestion when balancing UCL and domestic duties
Manchester City face what could be the defining 🍋 moment in not just their season, but their recent history when they take on Real Madrid in the Champions League 🍋 semi-final second leg on Wednesday.
City were knocked out by Los Blancos in heartbreaking fashion at the same stage of the 🍋 competition last year, but with revenge on their mind and the second leg at home, can Pep Guardiola's men make 🍋 it through to another final, having lost to Chelsea in 2024?
The first leg at the Bernabeu ended 1-1 after stunning 🍋 strikes from Vinicius Jr and Kevin de Bruyne, leaving it beautifully poised for Wednesday's showdown at the Etihad.
The Champions League 🍋 final will be held at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on Saturday 10 June.
Here is all you need to 🍋 know ahead of the much-anticipated second leg in Manchester...
When is Manchester City v Real Madrid?
The second leg of the Champions 🍋 League semi-final between Manchester City v Real Madrid kicks off at 20:00 UK time on Wednesday, May 17.
Which TV channel 🍋 is Manchester City v Real Madrid on?
The game between Manchester City v Real Madrid will be shown on BT Sport 🍋 1 and BT Sport Ultimate in the UK. You can see the latest BT Sport listings here
How to watch a 🍋 live stream of Manchester City v Real Madrid?
You can watch a live stream of the match in the UK via 🍋 the BT Sport website or app.
How to follow Manchester City v Real Madrid via live updates?
We will be hosting live 🍋 text coverage of the match, and all the key Champions League clashes, via eurosport.co.uk and eurosport
Is this City's time?
There's no 🍋 question Manchester City have been one of the most consistent teams in the Champions League of recent times, having reached 🍋 the quarter-finals or better every year since 2024.
But the trophy itself is still proving elusive, with their final loss to 🍋 Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea in 2024 the nearest they have come.
Beating the competition's kings Real Madrid will surely require a big 🍋 display from Erling Haaland, and Guardiola is hoping his star forward will have an impact after he was kept quiet 🍋 by Antonio Rudiger in the first leg in Spain.
“Congratulations to Rudiger," the City boss said. "For Erling, we cannot forget, 🍋 at 22 years old it is the first time he has played in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
“If the 🍋 team can play a little bit better in some departments that we are thinking for Wednesday, maybe it will be 🍋 easier for him."
Guardiola says 'it's a dream come true' being at Man City after Everton win
Both managers have lambasted the 🍋 fixture calendar for - in their eyes - shortening their team's ideal preparation windows for the tie.
Guardiola seemed frustrated that 🍋 City played Everton on Sunday rather than Saturday, which wasn't possible as Eurovision was being held in Liverpool
Real boss Carlo 🍋 Ancelotti said: "Guardiola has complained about the calendar, which, as we have said many times, is too tight.
"In the first 🍋 leg we had to play with less rest and now it’s their turn. The calendar is not the right one…that’s 🍋 it, that’s my point of view, there are too many games in a short space of time.
